Business names
Business names
Business names
Business names
Register a business name
Key points:
- A business name is the name your business operates under.
- You must register a business name if you run a business in Australia and are not trading under your own name.
- You can register a business name through the Australian Government’s Business Registration System or ASIC’s online system.
- When you register a business name, you become a ‘business name holder’.
Choosing a business name
All businesses in Australia trade under a name. You must choose and register a business name unless you are:
- operating as an individual under your first name and surname
- operating in a under all partners’ personal names
- a registered Australian and your operating name is the same as the company’s name.
Learn more about these business structures and see examples: Sole trader? Partnership? Company? Trust?
If you are operating under your own name, you must use your first name and surname and nothing else.
For example, John Smith would not need to register ‘John Smith’ but would need to register the business name ‘John Smith Gardening or ‘John Smith & Co’. Partners Peter Nguyen and Helen Lee would not need to register ‘Peter Nguyen and Helen Lee’ but would need to register ‘Nguyen & Lee Plumbing’.
Name availability
You can check if your proposed business name is available on the business names register. Select ‘check business name availability’ in the drop-down menu. The ‘traffic light’ system displays the name’s status:
- green – the name is available
- amber – we need to assess the name after you apply
- red – the name is unavailable.
If you get an amber or red result, this may be because the name is identical or nearly identical to another registered name, or does not meet other requirements.
See the rules for acceptable business names.
An amber result might also be because the word is ‘unknown’ to our systems. This may include words that are made up, words that have an unusual spelling, or words that are joined together. The name will be put in a queue for a manual assessment.
Other laws about business names
There are other laws that might relate to your business name. For example, some state and territory laws limit the use of industry and professional terms.
If you register a business name that could breach another law, the responsible body may:
- advise you that you cannot use your registered business name
- take action against you.
ASIC will not refund the cost of registering the business name in these cases.
People who cannot hold a business name
ASIC has a dedicated Government Relations team that can assist with a range of enquiries.
You cannot hold a business name if you’ve been convicted of certain types of criminal offences or been disqualified from managing corporations. See more about people who cannot hold a business name.
Australian Business Number (ABN)
To register a business name via ASIC Connect, you must have:
- an
- an ABN reference number if you are applying for an ABN.
Or you can apply for an ABN and register a business name at the same time using the Business Registration Service.
You can also apply separately for an ABN through the Australian Business Register. If you apply this way, you will get an ABN reference number while the application is being processed.
Apply for an ABN using the Australian Business Register
If you are registering a business name as a joint venture, you must put each partner’s ABN on the application.
Contact details you need to provide
You must include certain contact details when you register. We use these to send you documents or contact you, and the public may search the register for your address.
If you’re worried about your safety, you can ask us to hide some personal details from the public.
Service of documents address
This must be a physical street address or PO Box in Australia. We send official notices and letters to this address if you have not given us an email address.
The address is shown on the public register.
Principal place of business address
This is the main place you carry out business. It must be a physical street address in Australia. The address is shown on the public register. However, if your place of business is your home address and you operate as an individual, we will only show your suburb, state or territory and postcode.
Email address
If you have provided an email address, we send official notices and letters to this address. These include your business name record of registration, renewal notices and invoices. Your email address is not shown on the public register.
Mobile number (optional)
You can also provide a mobile number. This is not shown on the public register.
People who can register a business name on your behalf
You can allow someone else to register your business name on your behalf. This is a private arrangement between you and the other person – ASIC is not involved.
Authorised lodger
You can choose an accountant, solicitor, friend or family member as the person you give permission to. This person is called an ‘authorised lodger’. The authorised lodger can create their own ASIC Connect account or submit the application on your behalf.
Protecting your business name
Registering a business/company name protects you from another business using an identical or nearly identical name.
However it does not:
- stop other people from using similar words or expressions in their business name
- protect you against legal action if you use someone else’s .
To protect your business/company name, you can consider registering a trade mark yourself. You should also search existing trade marks to make sure you are not using someone else’s.
Read more about business names v trade marks.
Fees for registering a business name
There is a fee to register a business name. The current fees are:
- application to register a business name for 1 year: $45
- application to register a business name for 3 years: $104
Where to register a business name
You can register a business name on ASIC Connect.
ASIC Connect
If you already have an ABN or an ABN reference number, you can apply for a business name through ASIC’s online system ASIC Connect.
See the step-by-step guide to registering a business name on ASIC Connect:
How to register a business name with ASIC
After registering a business name
Using your business name
You must display your business name prominently wherever the business is open to the public – such as your storefront. You do not need to display a certificate of registration of a business name.
You can display your business name in capital letters, lower case letters, or a combination. You do not have to follow the way it is formatted in the register.
You must include your registered business name and ABN on business documents such as invoices and purchase orders.
Keeping your details up to date
You must tell us about changes to your details, usually within 28 days.